US3658328A — Pool game tables and components for use therein

Claim 1

Independent Claim 402 words

In a pool game table, the combination which includes, game table top structure and support and pool ball receiver means, said game table top structure comprising bed and rail means as members of a casting which includes a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a plurality of passageways leading interiorly of the body of said casting, each of said passageways having a pool ball inlet communicating the said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said passageway to receive a pool ball into said casting through said pool ball inlet of said passageway from said recess, and each of said passageways having a pool ball outlet grouped together with said pool ball outlets of the other of said passageways adjacent to the normally vertical axis of said recess in a region behind said substantially plane face of said bed and said passageway communicating for a pool ball to move through said passageway from said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet by gravity under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said support and pool ball receiver means including, pedestal means for supporting said game table top structure, adjustable leveling means extending between said pedestal means and said game table top structure and mounted for transmitting load of said game table top structure to said pedestal means and adjusting said game table top structure into a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receptacle means associated with a side aperture in said pedestal means and communicating with said pool ball outlets through a hollow in said pedestal means to receive pool balls from said outlets through said hollow by gravity and for the pool balls received in said receptacle means to be removed through said side aperture from the interior of said pedestal means while said pedestal means under load transmitted through said leveling means supports said table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 402 words

In a pool game table, the combination which includes, game table top structure and support and pool ball receiver means, said game table top structure comprising bed and rail means as members of a casting which includes a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a plurality of passageways leading interiorly of the body of said casting, each of said passageways having a pool ball inlet communicating the said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said passageway to receive a pool ball into said casting through said pool ball inlet of said passageway from said recess, and each of said passageways having a pool ball outlet grouped together with said pool ball outlets of the other of said passageways adjacent to the normally vertical axis of said recess in a region behind said substantially plane face of said bed and said passageway communicating for a pool ball to move through said passageway from said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet by gravity under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said support and pool ball receiver means including, pedestal means for supporting said game table top structure, adjustable leveling means extending between said pedestal means and said game table top structure and mounted for transmitting load of said game table top structure to said pedestal means and adjusting said game table top structure into a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receptacle means associated with a side aperture in said pedestal means and communicating with said pool ball outlets through a hollow in said pedestal means to receive pool balls from said outlets through said hollow by gravity and for the pool balls received in said receptacle means to be removed through said side aperture from the interior of said pedestal means while said pedestal means under load transmitted through said leveling means supports said table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 196 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes, a pillar having said hollow therein and said side aperture is a notch in said pillar communicating with said hollow from a normally upper end of said pillar, and a cap seating upon said normally upper end of said pillar and supporting load of said game table top structure, said cap having an extension substantially fitting said pillar to align said cap with said pillar and substantially close off said notch part way down said pillar, there being an opening in said cap intercommunicating with said hollow and said pool ball outlets for pool balls from said pool ball outlets to pass through said cap opening and enter said hollow, and said pool ball receptacle means includes a pool ball tray seating at the bottom of said notch upon said pillar and supported within said hollow in said pillar, having said pool ball tray extend for receiving pool balls delivered through said cap opening into said hollow by gravity and delivering the pool balls received to the exterior of said pillar through said notch under said cap extension.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 90 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tray is configurated for engaging said pillar adjacent to said notch against endwise movement of said tray outwardly through said notch, and hanger means leading from a portion of said tray in said hollow of said pillar bears upon said normally upper end of said pillar for maintaining said tray under a face of said cap in said hollow of said pillar when said cap is seated upon said normally upper end of said pillar.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 374 words

In a pool game table, the combination which includes, game table top structure and support and pool ball receiver means, said game table top structure comprising bed and rail means as members of a casting which includes a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a pool ball outlet thimble securely embedded in material of said casting adjacent to the normally vertical axis of said recess in a region behind said substantially plane face of said bed and there being a plurality of passageways interiorly of the body of said casting, each of said passageways having a pool ball inlet communicating with said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said passageway to receive a pool ball into said casting through said pool ball inlet of said passageway from said recess, and each of said passageways having a pool ball outlet into the interior of said thimble and said passageway communicating for a pool ball to move through said passageway from said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet and thence into said thimble by gravity under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said support and pool ball receiver means including pedestal means for supporting said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receptacle means associated with a side aperture in said pedestal means and communicating with the interior of said thimble through a hollow in said pedestal means to receive pool balls from said thimble through said pedestal means by gravity and for the pool balls received in said receptacle means to be removed through said side aperture from the interior of said pedestal means while said pedestal means supports said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 374 words

In a pool game table, the combination which includes, game table top structure and support and pool ball receiver means, said game table top structure comprising bed and rail means as members of a casting which includes a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a pool ball outlet thimble securely embedded in material of said casting adjacent to the normally vertical axis of said recess in a region behind said substantially plane face of said bed and there being a plurality of passageways interiorly of the body of said casting, each of said passageways having a pool ball inlet communicating with said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said passageway to receive a pool ball into said casting through said pool ball inlet of said passageway from said recess, and each of said passageways having a pool ball outlet into the interior of said thimble and said passageway communicating for a pool ball to move through said passageway from said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet and thence into said thimble by gravity under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said support and pool ball receiver means including pedestal means for supporting said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receptacle means associated with a side aperture in said pedestal means and communicating with the interior of said thimble through a hollow in said pedestal means to receive pool balls from said thimble through said pedestal means by gravity and for the pool balls received in said receptacle means to be removed through said side aperture from the interior of said pedestal means while said pedestal means supports said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said thimble has a tubular extension outside said casting, and said tubular extension and a normally upper end portion of said pedestal means being male and female companions for being moved one into the other in assembling said casting and said support means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the table includes adjustable leveling means mounted for leveling said table top structure, said leveling means extending between said pedestal means and said game table top structure for transmitting load of said game table top structure to said pedestal means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 187 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pool ball outlets are grouped adjacent to the normally vertical axis of said recess having said tubular ducts communicating for pool balls to have egress from the interior of said casting adjacent to the normally vertical axis of said recess, and said support and pool ball receiver means comprises, pillAr means for supporting said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receptacle means associated with a side aperture in said pillar means and communicating with said pool ball outlets through a hollow in said pillar means to receive pool balls from said pool ball outlets by gravity and for the pool balls received in said receptacle means to be removed from said hollow through said aperture while said pillar means supports said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the table includes adjustable leveling means mounted for leveling said game table top structure and extending between said pillar means and said table top structure for transmitting load of said game table top structure to said pillar means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 166 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pillar means includes a pillar having said hollow and aperture therein, and a cap seating upon a normally upper end of said pillar, said cap having an opening for pool balls to pass from said pool ball outlets through said cap and enter said hollow by gravity while said pillar means supports said game table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said receptacle means includes a tray forwardly having a portion seated upon an edge of said pillar in said aperture and rearwardly having an end in said hollow further engaged with said pillar, for said tray to receive by gravity the pool balls delivered into said hollow from said pool ball outlets and for said aperture thence to serve as an exit for the pool balls received into said tray.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein the table includes adjustable leveling means mounted for leveling said game table top structure and extending between said cap and said game table top structure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 65 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said aperture in said pillar is a notch coextending with said hollow from said normally upper end of said pillar, and said cap has an extension substantially fitting with said pillar for aligning said cap with said pillar and for substantially closing off said notch for a distance along said pillar.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said notch reaches below said extension of said cap and said notch below said cap extension affords an exit from said hollow for the pool balls received in said tray.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tray seated upon said edge of said pillar in said aperture is configurated for engaging said pillar adjacent to said aperture against endwise movement of said tray outwardly through said aperture.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 96 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tray seated upon said edge of said pillar in said notch is configurated for engaging said pillar adjacent to said notch against endwise movement of said tray outwardly through said notch, and hanger means leads from said inner end of said tray in said hollow and engages said normally upper end of said pillar for supporting said tray in position under a face of said cap in said hollow when said cap is on said normally upper end of said pillar.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

In a pool game table, the combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein the table includes adjustable leveling means extending between said cap and said game table top structure and mounted for leveling said table top structure.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 262 words

In a pool game table component, the combination which includes, bed and rail means comprising as members of a casting, a bed having a substantiaLly plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a plurality of tubular ducts each characterized by having an elbow extending embedded in said bed of said casting and each of said elbows introducing a pool ball inlet of said tubular duct communicating with said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said elbow to receive a pool ball through said pool ball inlet of said tubular duct from said recess, and each of said tubular ducts having a tubular extension leading embedded in said bed of said casting and said tubular extension forming a pool ball outlet, said pool ball outlets being grouped together in a location normally lower than said substantially plane face of said bed, and said tubular extensions of said tubular ducts converging with reference to each other leading toward said group of pool ball outlets and communicating with the exterior of said casting, for a pool ball to move by gravity through any of said tubular ducts from said pool ball inlet of said tubular duct to said pool ball outlet of said tubular duct and have egress from said casting under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 262 words

In a pool game table component, the combination which includes, bed and rail means comprising as members of a casting, a bed having a substantiaLly plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a plurality of tubular ducts each characterized by having an elbow extending embedded in said bed of said casting and each of said elbows introducing a pool ball inlet of said tubular duct communicating with said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said elbow to receive a pool ball through said pool ball inlet of said tubular duct from said recess, and each of said tubular ducts having a tubular extension leading embedded in said bed of said casting and said tubular extension forming a pool ball outlet, said pool ball outlets being grouped together in a location normally lower than said substantially plane face of said bed, and said tubular extensions of said tubular ducts converging with reference to each other leading toward said group of pool ball outlets and communicating with the exterior of said casting, for a pool ball to move by gravity through any of said tubular ducts from said pool ball inlet of said tubular duct to said pool ball outlet of said tubular duct and have egress from said casting under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 68 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein cladding connected with said elbows includes a layer covering said substantially plane face of said bed at the bottom of said recess in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to material of said casting, and each of said pool ball inlets communicates with said recess through an aperture in said cladding layer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 63 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein a cupped cladding shell including said cladding layer covering said substantially plane face of said bed at the bottom of said recess further comprises an extension of said layer covering said rail in said recess in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to material of said casting.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 108 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein a cupped cladding shell including said cladding layer covering said substantially plane face of said bed at the bottom of said recess further comprises an extension of said layer covering said rail in said recess in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to material of said casting, portions of said rail in said casting have notches therein within said recess and said pool ball inlets enter said notches, and extensions of said elbows clad said rail in said notches in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to material of said casting.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 60 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein portions of said rail in said casting have notches therein within said recess and said pool ball inlets enter said notches, and extensions of said elbows clad said rail in said notches in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to material of said casting.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 97 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein said pool ball outlets are grouped in a region adjacent to a normally down side of said casting and the normally vertical axis of said recess and said tubular ducts communicate with the exterior of said casting through said normally down side of said casting for pool balls passing through said ducts to have egress from said casting by gravity under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 109 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein a thimble open communicating with a normally down side of said casting is embedded in material of said casting in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to said material, and each of said tubular ducts has said pool ball outlet tHereof emptying into the interior of said thimble, for a pool ball moving through any of said tubular ducts to pass by gravity through said thimble when said casting is in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 212 words

In a pool game table component, the combination which includes, bed and rail means comprising as members of a casting, a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a plurality of tubular ducts and a thimble embedded in material of said casting, each of said tubular ducts having a pool ball inlet communicating with said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed, for said tubular duct to receive a pool ball through said pool ball inlet from said recess, and said thimble being disposed communicating with a normally down side of said casting in a location adjacent to a normally vertical axis of said recess and communicating with a pool ball outlet of each of said tubular ducts, for a pool ball to move through said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet of said duct and through said thimble by gravity to said normally down side of said casting when said casting is in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 212 words

In a pool game table component, the combination which includes, bed and rail means comprising as members of a casting, a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, there being a plurality of tubular ducts and a thimble embedded in material of said casting, each of said tubular ducts having a pool ball inlet communicating with said recess at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed, for said tubular duct to receive a pool ball through said pool ball inlet from said recess, and said thimble being disposed communicating with a normally down side of said casting in a location adjacent to a normally vertical axis of said recess and communicating with a pool ball outlet of each of said tubular ducts, for a pool ball to move through said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet of said duct and through said thimble by gravity to said normally down side of said casting when said casting is in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 77 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 23 wherein a cupped cladding shell is in a comolded and thus integrally bonded relation to material of said casting at said normally up side and thence backward at an outside border of said casting from said normally up side, said cladding shell being connected with said tubular ducts and open thereto for pool balls in said recess to enter said pool ball inlets.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein each of said tubular ducts includes leading embedded in material of said casting, an elbow and a tubular extension from said elbow, said elbows of said tubular ducts being connected with said cupped cladding shell and said pool ball inlets being through said shell into said elbows, and said tubular extensions of said tubular ducts leading convergently with reference to each other toward said pool ball outlets and being connected with said thimble, having said pool ball outlets opening into the interior of said thimble.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 61 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 23 wherein said pool game table component includes pool ball cushion members disposed in said recess and connected with said cladding shell adjacent to said rail of said casting, and said component is lined with billiard cloth covering said cupped cladding shell at the bottom of said recess.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 37 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 26 wherein said cushion members, at innermost lateral ends in said recess, substantially define arcs lying on a circle between said pool ball inlets.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 34 words

In a pool game table component, the combination as set forth in claim 26 wherein an outside border of said casting lies substantially on a circle concentric with said circle of said cushion members.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 401 words

In a pool game table, the combination which includes, game table top structure and support and pool ball receiver means, said game table top structure comprising bed and rail means and said bed and rail means comprising as members of a casting, a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, and said game table top structure further including a plurality of tubular ducts each being characterized by having an elbow extending embedded in said bed of said casting and each of said elbows introducing adjacent to said rail a pool ball inlet of said duct communicating with said recEss at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said elbow to receive a pool ball through said pool ball inlet of said tubular duct from said recess, and each of said tubular ducts having a tubular extension leading embedded in said bed of said casting from said elbow and forming a pool ball outlet grouped together with said pool ball outlets of the other of said tubular extensions in a location normally lower than the substantially plane face of said bed, said tubular extensions of said tubular ducts converging with reference to each other leading toward said group of pool ball outlets, and said elbows and said tubular extensions communicating for a pool ball to move from said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet of any of said tubular ducts by gravity and thence to be received, under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said support and pool ball receiver means including support means for supporting said table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receiver means communicating to receive pool balls from said pool ball outlets by gravity and to hold the pool balls received to be removed from said receiver means to the exterior of the table while said support means supports said game table top structures in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 401 words

In a pool game table, the combination which includes, game table top structure and support and pool ball receiver means, said game table top structure comprising bed and rail means and said bed and rail means comprising as members of a casting, a bed having a substantially plane face at the bottom of a recess in a normally up side of said casting, and a rail surrounding said recess, and said game table top structure further including a plurality of tubular ducts each being characterized by having an elbow extending embedded in said bed of said casting and each of said elbows introducing adjacent to said rail a pool ball inlet of said duct communicating with said recEss at a different location around said rail adjacent to said rail and said substantially plane face of said bed for said elbow to receive a pool ball through said pool ball inlet of said tubular duct from said recess, and each of said tubular ducts having a tubular extension leading embedded in said bed of said casting from said elbow and forming a pool ball outlet grouped together with said pool ball outlets of the other of said tubular extensions in a location normally lower than the substantially plane face of said bed, said tubular extensions of said tubular ducts converging with reference to each other leading toward said group of pool ball outlets, and said elbows and said tubular extensions communicating for a pool ball to move from said pool ball inlet to said pool ball outlet of any of said tubular ducts by gravity and thence to be received, under conditions wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and said support and pool ball receiver means including support means for supporting said table top structure in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level, and pool ball receiver means communicating to receive pool balls from said pool ball outlets by gravity and to hold the pool balls received to be removed from said receiver means to the exterior of the table while said support means supports said game table top structures in a position wherein said recess is entrant in a downward direction and said substantially plane face of said bed is approximately level.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-04-25	1975-10-25	1976-04-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-04-25	1979-10-25	1980-04-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-04-25	1983-10-25	1984-04-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pool game tables and components for use therein

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